All older people should be guaranteed basic level of care

The controversial policy of means testing elderly people who need long term care must end, says a new report. Under radical proposals set out by Sir Derek Wanless, the number of people in England required to sell their homes to pay for personal care would be slashed—but at a price.

Sir Derek, who produced the 2002 Treasury report calling for a massive rise in NHS funding, now advocates a near doubling of social care spending over the next 20 years, from 1.1% …